A Twist of Date by Susan Hatler

stalling.
    Striding to the front desk, I dropped my bag on the floor. “Good morning,”
    “Morning.” His voice was neutral, neither friendly nor angry, but he didn’t glance up from his book.
    Bad sign. I swallowed the lump in my throat, lifted my bag, then walked past the front counter.
    “What’s the word?” he said.
    I stopped, tears blurring my vision. “The word?”
    Matt snapped his book shut, and no longer looked disinterested. He looked hurt. “After a year giving me the word, you think you’re going to pass by without choosing it?”
    I bit my lip. “You’re speaking to me.”
    “Apparently so.” His tone was lighter this time. Not quite friendly, but it seemed like he was trying.
    My eyes burned, and I blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “Matt, I’m—”
    “The word, Mel.” He seemed uncomfortable, and shook his head. “It’s just a word.”
    I took a deep breath, knowing what I needed to say. “Matt, I’m sorry.”
    He stared blankly. “That’s three words. We only need one.”
    I couldn’t help but smile. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
    “Forgiven?” Matt leaned forward, tapping his finger on the countertop. “That’s one word, I suppose, but not very imaginative.”
    “Thank you, Matt. You don’t know how much I—” I leaned on the counter, and my hand accidentally brushed his.
    He froze, for a moment, then pulled away from me. “Those are a lot of words. I’m beginning to think you’ve forgotten how the game goes.”
    It stung that he’d cringed at my touch, but I deserved it. At least he was talking to me. “You pick the word.”
    “Hmmm.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not how it works.”
    I shrugged. “Seems like a lot of things are changing around here.”
    He avoided my gaze, and didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything, either. The long drawn out silence was starting to get to me when the front door burst open.
    “Morning, all!” Steve strode in wearing his red polo and white shorts. “What’s the word?”
    Matt and I exchanged a look, neither of us answering.
    My mouth twisted to the side. How had I never noticed how stubborn he could be?
    Steve leaned against the counter next to me. “The word, people. Clue me in already.”
    Remembering what Matt had said when I’d told him to choose the word, I turned to Steve. “The word of the day is hmmm.”
    “Really?” Steve scratched his head. “Is that a word? Seems like more of a sound to me. Hmmm.”
    I gestured toward Matt with my thumb, just like he usually did with me. “He picked it. Blame him, not me.”
    The corners of Matt’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t have a comeback.
    My eyes widened in faux shock. “Finally, I’ve stumped the unstumpable.” I smiled. “Hmmm. I think I like that.”
    Steve looked from Matt to me. “Why do I always feel like I’m missing something when it comes to you two?”
    “Hmmm,” Matt said. “Don’t know, Steve. Were you often left out as a child?”
    “Actually . . . ” he began.
    Ding! Ding!
    The front door burst open behind me, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. If it was Erica, I might lose it, and I didn’t want to explode in front of Matt and Steve.
    “Good morning,” a familiar male voice said. “Is the gym open yet?”
    Definitely not Erica.
    It was Brad.
    Every nerve in my body went on red alert. He came up behind me, but I didn’t turn around.
    Instead of greeting Brad, the way a front clerk was supposed to, Matt just stared at him, his forehead crinkling. Truth be told, he seemed kinda angry.
    “It’s a few minutes early, but sure.” Steve picked up his gym bag, then strode around the desk. “Come on back.”
    “All right.” Brad followed Steve’s trail, but turned over his shoulder, “Morning, Mel.”
    “Morning,” I said, but didn’t bother to look at him. I raised my brows at Matt, hoping to get that hard look off his normally sweet face. “Hmmm.”
    “That guy bugs,” he said, before